Dominic Weintraub, William Strom, Hugo Williams, and Claire Bird (Photo: Teddy Wolff)

Burnout Paradise

By Deirdre Donovan

The live game show Burnout Paradise, now making its North American debut at St. Ann's Warehouse, is experimental theater at its best and zaniest. Directed, written, designed, and performed by Australia's Pony Cam, a collective based in Melbourne, their latest spectacle is bound to appeal to the most adventurous and fun-loving theatergoers.

Those who go early can watch the "Warm Up," in which four collectivists are on their treadmills literally warming up. As they run in place, an inspirational soundtrack is being channeled into the theater, with all kinds of uplifting quotes about "greatness" ("If greatness doesn't come knocking on your door, perhaps you should go knocking on its door.")  No question it's designed to sensitize audience members to the live game show about to unfold and the next-to-impossible challenges that the contestants will confront as they try to crack their personal glass ceilings.

The game show starts with our host Ava Campbell introducing the contestants--Claire Bird, Dominic Weintraub, Hugo Williams, and William Strom-and explaining the ground rules and general design of the show to the audience. Or as she puts it: "Burnout Paradise is an escalating series of tasks on 4 treadmills and Pony Cam enacts the recklessness, euphoria, and optimism that come before burnout."

Campbell points out the four treadmills on stage that are categorically labeled: "survival," "admin," "performance," and "leisure."  She explains that the aforementioned contestants will attempt to perform a variety of feats over the next hour, all while running on a treadmill. We will watch them either cook a three-course meal for two volunteer audience members, fill out a grant application, re-enact a childhood performance, or complete a number of to-do tasks from a list of routine activities. Campbell adds, with a twinkle in her eye, that audience are invited to help contestants with their tasks, if they feel so inclined.

Campbell explained that the hour-long event would be divided into four quarters, allowing contestants to remain only 15 minutes on any given treadmill before rotating to the next one. No question this is a plus for both the performers and spectators. The former gets to reset and refresh with a water break; the latter gets to see contestants reveal their resourcefulness and stamina as they tackle each successive activity, all while still running on a treadmill.

Besides serving as host, Campbell keeps score on all the contestants, sells merchandise, and serves Gatorade on demand to any thirsty audience member. In short, she is the game show's factotum and keeps things seamlessly moving along.

Burnout Paradise continually pushes the theatrical envelope. Performers are not only doing ridiculous things but are going to ridiculous lengths to get them done. Case in point. Spectators watch Weintraub as he tries to change from a pair of athletic shorts to a Speedo racing brief, without ending up in his birthday suit.

Claire Bird, Dominic Weintraub (Photo: Teddy Wolff)

There are other daunting tasks that our quartet of treadmillers-in-motion attempt to execute for the audience: making pasta from scratch; scooping fake dog poop; re-enacting a ballet dance performed at age 5; presenting Hamlet's "to be or not to be" speech in its entirety.

Music is an integral part of the show. The Four Tops song "I Can't Help Myself," swells through the theater as the collectivists rotate to their next treadmill, perfectly echoing with Pony Cam's motto on their current flyer: "They need YOU to get it done."  Sheena Easton song "9 to 5" also keeps things lively as host Campbell records the distance run by each performer on a giant chalk board.

The pressure is truly on in this live game show. Contestants must collectively surpass the previous highest distance run and finish all tasks or audience members will be entitled to a refund. But, suffice it to say, Australia's Pony Cam at the eleventh hour counted up their total points and weighed in as winners.

Unlike most theatermakers, Pony Cam works without a traditional creative hierarchy. In a program note, "it states that its practice emerges between its divergent aesthetic interests, physical abilities, social responsibilities, cultural histories, and sense of humor."

Indeed, the performers' sense of humor is truly the secret ingredient that makes their show so delightful throughout. They realize that they can't complete the feats alone and cheerfully welcome the steady stream of audience members who run to the stage to assist them. In fact, success happens when the contestants shout out commands, and audience members do their best to supply them in turn with the requested item or action, albeit a spatula, toothpaste, or perhaps fastening a button on a costume.

Ava Campbell, Claire Bird, Dominic Weintraub, William Strom, Hugo Williams. (Photo: Teddy Wolff)

With the holiday season barreling in, Burnout Paradise just might be the perfect antidote to the stress and exhaustion that comes from too much decorating and shopping. What's more, audience members are invited to the theater bar after the show where, rumor has it, the cast enjoys a celebratory brew.

 

Burnout Paradise

At St. Ann's Warehouse, 45 Water St., Brooklyn

For more information, visit www.stannswarehouse.org.

Running Time:  1 hour with no intermission.

Through December 1.